Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir at odds over BCCI's controversial Family Rule

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir backs the introduction of a revised Family Rule from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which limits the players' interaction with their respective family members on overseas tours. This rule came into effect in the wake of India's humiliating 1-3 drubbing at the hands of Australia in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test tour. As per the policy, families are now allowed to stay with the cricketers for no more than two weeks if the tour lasts for 45 days or more. In case of a shortened tour, families are only allowed to stay for a week.

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"This is not a holiday...' Gambhir urges the team to look at the bigger picture

While supporting BCCI's revamped Family Rule policy, Gambhir reiterated that the players must keep personal matters aside and look at the bigger goal, which is to represent the country on the big stage. Although he stressed the importance of spending time with the families, he explained that the players should not deviate from their end goal. In his opinion, the players should not take things for granted and refrain from treating an overseas tour as their personal vacation. 

'Families are important, but one thing has to be understood - you are here for a purpose. This is not a holiday. You are here for a bigger purpose. There are very few people in the dressing room or on this tour who get the opportunity to make the country proud. By the way, I am not against not being with families.'

Furthermore, Gambhir also added that there shall be no bigger goal than making your country proud, and no other family commitments shall take precedence over it. 

'It is important to have a family, but if your focus is on making the country proud and your role is bigger than anything else and you are committed to that goal, then I think everything else is fine. But for me, that purpose and that goal are more important than anything else.'

BCCI's revised family policy restriction leaves Kohli vexed 

The introduction of BCCI's latest family restriction policy has not gone down too well with Virat Kohli. Speaking at the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, Kohli took a dig at the Apex body and criticized them for not understanding player emotions. 

'It is very difficult to explain to people how relaxing it is to return to your family at such a time when something is stressful or difficult outside. I don't think people understand how big a deal it is to have family together. I feel sad because people who are not even connected to this matter are included in the discussion, and it is said that 'maybe they should be kept away'

By now, the world already knows that Virat Kohli is a family person. While being on extended tours, he has reportedly spent time with his wife Anushka, exploring some unique tourist-friendly places. Being away from them is something that is not his cup of tea. While concluding his crticism over the new family rule, Kohli revealed that no Indian player on a tour wants to be on their own inside the hotel room.